Boat lowering and detaching apparatus.



No.848,998.' PATENTED'APR. 2, 1901' 0. P. E. KNUDSEN'.

BOAT LOWERING AND DETAGHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED IEB.9,19OG.I

prrrrn' sra'rns PATENT @FEICE.

OLE P. E. KNUDSEN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BOAT LOWERING AND DETACHING APPARATUS- Application filed February 9, 1906. Serial No 300,315.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, OLE P. E. KNUDSEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boat Lowering and Detaching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the above type which can be readily operated to release the boat at all points of its connection with the lowering apparatus simultaneously.

I/Vith the above and other objects referred to in the following in view my invention rcsides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as set forth in this specification and defined in the appended claims.

IVith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a life boat with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing a boat lowering and detaching apparatus embodying my invention in operation; and Figs. 3, 4L, 5, and 6 are fragmentary views on large scale, showing details.

In the drawings my invention is shown in connection with the well-known form of apparatus for lowering boats, the same comprising davits, as 1 1, spaced apart and mounted on the ship or other structure where the apparatus is installed, and the usual tackles consisting of head-blocks 2 2, attached to their respective davits, fallblocks 3, carrying hooks 3, and falls 41, engaged with their respective blocks.

In connection with the above or other suit able apparatus of a like nature I provide releasable connections between the apparatus and a boat, as 5, and means for operating said connection simultaneously to release the boat from the lowering apparatus. The releasable connections consist of catches, as 6, arranged in opposite ends of the boat substantially amidships and conveniently embodied as the outer end portions of rods 7, which are conveniently mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in respective casing 8, consisting of tubes extending longitudinally of the boat. The catches 6 slidably fit Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apia; 2, 1907.

in respective sockets 9, which are conveniently rigidly connected with the boat and suitably spaced from the adjacent ends of respective tubes, so that the hooks 3 may be engaged with their respective catches between the sockets and the tubes.

Pivotally connected with the rod 7, each with its respective rod, are oppositely-disposed arms 10, which are related to a lever 11 for operation, the said lever and arms being rigidly secured to a shaft 12, rotatably mounted in a bearing 14, arranged in the boat intermediate the tubes 8. The tubes 8 are rigidly fastened in place by suitable means, as straps 8, which are secured to the seats of the boat and embrace their respective tubes. In addition to protecting the rod 7- these tubes offer convenient hand-holes for the occupants of the boat and, furthermore, act in conjunction with the sockets 9 to prevent the outer end portions of the rods 7 from being bent by the strain imposed through the hooks 3 when the boat is being lowered. The lever 11 is preferably so arranged relatively to the arms 10 that when the catches 6 are in position for engagement by the hooks 3, as heretofore set forth, the free end portion of said lever will lie in close proximity to one of the tubes 8 for engagement with a suitable keeper conveniently consisting of a thimble 15, slidably fitting upon said tube and formed with a channel 15 of suitable size to receive the said end portion of the lever.

In launching a boat in a heavy sea with my apparatus the hooks 3 are engaged with their respective catches 6 and the davits operated in the usual manner to swing the boat outboard. The falls 4 are then played out to lower the boat after the passengers are aboard. Then the boat has reached a position close to the water, it is held suspended by the attendants holding fast to the falls until the proper sea is presented beneath the boat, when the catches 6 are then operated to disengage them from the hooks 3 by upward movement of the lever 11, from which keeper 15 has been previously disengaged by sliding it along the tube. The boat upon its release will drop upon the water clear of the lowering apparatus, thus permitting the occupants to proceed with the work of clearing the boat from the ship the moment it strikes the water.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, 1s-

1. An apparatus for launching boats comprising means for lowering and holding a boat in a lowered position including opposite blocks provided with hooks, tubular casings extending longitudinally of the boat and being arranged adjacent the seats so as to serve as handholds, rods slidable in said casings and projecting from the outer ends thereof, the hooks of said blocks being engaged with the projecting end portions of said rods, and means for sliding said rods simultaneously.

2. An apparatus for launching boats comprising means for lowering and holding a boat in a lowered position, tubular casings extending longitudinally of the boat, rods slidable in said casings and projecting from the outer ends thereof, the outer end portions of said rods being engaged with said means, a shaft disposed intermediate said casings, opposite arms secured to said shaft and pivotally connected each with its respective rod, a lever secured to said shaft, and a thimble forming a keeper slidable on one of said casings and being formed with a channel adapted to receive the free end portion of said lever.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 31st day of January, 1906.

OLE P. E. KNUDSEN. Witnesses:

FRANK E. ADAMS, E. ARLITA ADAMS. 

